Indiana State University Newsroom

ISU Foundation promotes two advancement staff

The Indiana State University Foundation has announced the promotion of two staff members, Phil Ness as senior vice president of development and Kim Kunz as director of external relations.

The changes are effective immediately and realign the organization's fundraising activities to better position the foundation with its strategic plan, said Ron Carpenter, foundation president.

"The advancement of these individuals is much deserved," Carpenter said. "We are committed to growing resources for our university, and the work of Phil and Kim has been instrumental. I am confident that they will continue to make an even greater impact in their new roles."

Ness now leads the major gifts team and athletics fundraising efforts for the foundation.

"I am excited and energized about the opportunity," Ness said. "We have a lot that we can accomplish for Indiana State. The more we harmonize donor interests with philanthropic needs, the more we can achieve for our university and community."

Ness joined the foundation in 2012 as the associate vice president of development. In this capacity, he focused on athletics fundraising and oversaw the Sycamore Athletic Fund. During his time with the foundation, he has grown the Athletic Fund team and was instrumental in the university's largest single fundraising event which resulted in a more than $400,000 endowment for the Larry Bird Scholarship at Indiana State.

"Phil has quickly become a known personality in not only the area, but also the entire Indiana State community. He is a good fit for this position," said Carpenter.

Prior to his tenure at Indiana State, Ness was a the most successful basketball coach in the history of Allegheny College, followed by 10 years as a major gift officer at the Meadville, Penn. school.

"Phil will do a great job of building on the work that the development team had already accomplished under the leadership of John Heintz." Carpenter said.

Heintz is resuming his position as senior development officer to focus on advancing major gift fundraising for Indiana State and the Scott College of Business.

Kunz is responsible for overseeing the external relations for the foundation, which includes the annual giving, stewardship, marketing, and communications functions of the organization.

"The synergy of our external relations area connects our donors to the university in a unique way. We greatly value the relationships we have with our alumni, friends and university partners, and this set-up enables us to approach our donor cultivation and stewardship efforts more holistically," Carpenter said.

Kunz joined the foundation as a graduate assistant in 2008, and was hired in a full time role to oversee the organization's communications in 2010. Kunz is a 2004 graduate of Midland University in Fremont, Neb.

"Kim has been a constant figure for the foundation and has been involved in so many aspects of our overall work and our successes that this is just a natural fit," Carpenter said.